Everything We Know About Cyberpunk 2: Official Information, Leaks, Fan Theories

Although the release of the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077 is not expected in the near future, the very fact that this popular RPG is getting a follow-up has long ceased to be a secret. CD Projekt RED openly confirms the existence of Cyberpunk 2, also known as Project Orion, and even shares development status updates during financial reports. On top of that, the internet is full of rumors, leaks, and fan theories concerning the sequel. You will find the key details in this article.

Right now, the studio’s primary focus is The Witcher 4. Work on the continuation of the iconic fantasy saga is in full swing, yet the release is clearly far off: just recently Michal Nowakowski, one of the company’s two CEOs, urged fans not to expect any Witcher-related announcements at The Game Awards.

Nevertheless, in parallel with The Witcher 4, the development of Cyberpunk 2 is slowly gaining momentum. According to the latest financial report, 135 developers have already been reassigned to Orion, compared to 116 in July. They are currently “laying the foundations” of the future game and handling early planning. For comparison, 447 developers are working on The Witcher 4.

Interestingly, the core of the Cyberpunk 2 team consists of CD Projekt RED’s Boston and Vancouver divisions. This is primarily a North American project, while the Polish branch provides support. Producer Dan Hernberg hopes the sequel will feel more “authentically American” in spirit.

The role of game director for Cyberpunk 2 went to Gabriel Amatangelo, who earned strong reception for his work on Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Before joining CD Projekt RED, Amatangelo worked on DLC for Dragon Age: Inquisition.

This choice inspires confidence: many fans consider Phantom Liberty a major step forward compared to the base game — in atmosphere, narrative depth, and its focus on heavier cyberpunk themes.

As for Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk tabletop RPG on which Cyberpunk 2077 is based, he explained that he is “not as directly involved” in Project Orion as he was in the previous game, although he still reviews scripts and visits the studios.

Interestingly, one of the most intriguing pieces of information comes from Pondsmith himself. In an interview, he revealed details about the setting of the sequel and let slip that the game will feature two cities. He confirmed that one of them is Night City, and about the other metropolis he said:

It’s important to note that Pondsmith does not literally call the second city Chicago — he uses it as a comparison to describe the atmosphere. Still, fans have plenty of reasons to believe that the new large location in Cyberpunk 2 may indeed be Chicago.

Chicago receives surprising attention in Cyberpunk 2077’s lore. The “Transcontinental Maglev Network,” designed to connect Chicago and Night City with a three-hour train ride, is frequently mentioned. It appears in news broadcasts and online articles in the base game, and in Phantom Liberty’s secret ending — set slightly in the future — players learn that the maglev network has been completed. Everything aligns rather well, doesn’t it?

In current Cyberpunk lore, Chicago is one of the most important cities in the NUSA, yet one that has gone through severe catastrophe and a long decline. The metropolis suffered heavily from a series of corporate wars and the use of banned biological weapons. One of the largest bio-attacks forced the evacuation of part of the city, while entire districts were sealed off for decades. The economy collapsed, the population shrank by nearly 90%, and infrastructure deteriorated.

By the late 2070s, Chicago is slowly recovering, though it remains scarred — marked by high crime, strong corporate influence, and a sharp class divide between rebuilt districts and former contamination zones.

Fans also believe that Cyberpunk 2 may finally introduce Morgan Blackhand — arguably the most legendary character in the franchise’s lore. He is a former cyber-soldier who received a cybernetic black hand during military service. After the war (one of many in the Cyberpunk universe), Blackhand became a solo merc employed by Militech and other clients. Over the years he earned a reputation as the best of the best — even Adam Smasher feared him.

Blackhand disappeared from the public eye after the attack on Arasaka Tower — the same event shown as a flashback through Johnny Silverhand’s eyes in Cyberpunk 2077. In reality, Morgan, not Johnny, was the key figure in that operation, reinforcing the theory that the game depicts distorted memories shaped by Silverhand’s narcissism.

Johnny Silverhand might also return. In September, Keanu Reeves publicly stated that he would “absolutely” like to reprise the role in the sequel. Mike Pondsmith supported the idea, hinting that he “has ways” to bring the character back — even addressing the actor directly: “I have ways to do that, Keanu, contact me.” None of this confirms anything officially, of course.

Since the game is still in pre-production, there are no official gameplay details yet. However, players have analyzed CD Projekt RED job listings and developers’ LinkedIn profiles, reaching several conclusions:

In March 2022, CD Projekt RED officially announced that The Witcher 4 would be developed on Unreal Engine 5. And this year, CDPR’s VP of Technology Charles Tremblay explained that REDengine limited the studio: it was unsuitable for multi-project development and struggled with multiplayer tasks. This led to a long-term strategic partnership with Epic Games, making it almost certain that Cyberpunk 2 is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 as well.

Finally, in the latest financial report, the studio stated that the game should not be expected before 2028. No specific date was announced, but considering modern development cycles, it is safe to assume Cyberpunk 2 will be a next-generation title for hardware that hasn’t even been revealed yet — likely arriving in the early 2030s. The wait is long, but rushing risks repeating Cyberpunk 2077’s troubled launch.

And what about you? Is the hype already there, or is it still too early? Share your thoughts in the comments.